Alkali salts of methylene disalicylic acid and process of making same.



U IIED Srnrns PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL LEWIS SUMMERS, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

ALKALI SALTS 0F METHYLENE DISALICYLIC ACID AND PROCESS OF MAKING SAME.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 716,591, datedDecember 23, 1902.

Application filed June 14, 1902. Serial No. 111,731. (No specimensJ Toall whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, SAMUEL LEWIS SUM- MERS, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing in the city of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania,have invented and discovered certain new and useful Alkali Salts ofMethylene Disalicylic Acid and Process of Producing the Same, of whichthe following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to a new chemical compound having especial utilityas a pharmaceutical product by reason of its therapeutic value incertain cases. Administered as an internal medicine in doses of fromfive to fifteen grains, varying according to condition of patient, it isa valuable remedy in cases of uric-acid diathesis.

The new body is generically an alkali salt of methylene disalicylic acidand comprises the individuals in that class-for example, the lithiumsalt, the ammonium salt, the potassium salt, and the sodium salt,representing the class of alkali salts.

In a former application for Letters Patent filed by me April 26, 1902,Serial No. 104,821, I have described and claimed the acid body to beacted on herein-namely, the methylene disalicylic acid--which will befound fully described in the specification attached to said applicationand which therefore need not be further described herein, save to saythat it is a crystalline body composed of two salicylic-acid moleculesdeprived of one hydrogen atom in each salicylic-acid group andchemically united or held together by the methylene group.

My present invention consists in the production of the alkali salts ofthis body, and comprises such salts as a new class of products and theprocess by which I produce them.

In carrying out my invention practically I first prepare a volume ofthree hundred parts of water, in which is suspended two hundred andeighty-eight parts of the methylene disalicylic acid, the latter beinginsoluble in water. To this is added 7 3.5 1 parts of pure lithiumcarbonate for the production of the lithium salt of methylenedisalicylic acid. It is a white amorphous powder, somewhat granular instructure, deliquescent and soluble in water and alcohol, insoluble inether and benzene, and forms from the solution aforesaid when evaporatedto dryness. Its formula is C, I-I, O (COOLi) An analogous reaction takesplaceif 105.4 parts of pure sodium carbonate be substituted for thelithium salt and treated in the same way, resulting in the production ofthe sodium salt of methylene disalicylic acid having the sameidentifying characteristics above stated and the formula O, H, O (OOONa)An analogous reaction also takes place if 137.2 parts of pure potassiumcarbonate is substituted for the lithium or sodium salts andis treatedin the same way, save that a much less quantity than three hundred partsof water-say one-third-is sufficient. The resultant is the potassiumsalt of methylene disalicylic acid having the same identifyingcharacteristics above stated and the formula O H O (COOK) An analogousreaction also takes place if 120.7 parts of a solution containingtwenty-eight per cent. of ammonia-gas be substituted for the lithium,potassium, or sodium salts and treated in the same way, save that themethylene disalicylic acid should be suspended in about one-third thequantity of water first stated. The ammonium acts chemically as analkali metal, and the resultant is the ammonium salt of methylenedisalicylic acid having the same identifying characteristics as theother three species described and the formula O, II, O (COONH,)

In lieu of the specific formulae stated a general formula covering thefour individual salts in the class may be given as C, II, O (R) in whichR represents a monovalent alkali metal. I

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. The new product described, which is an alkali salt of methylenedisalicylic acid, an amorphous powder, nearly white, soluble in waterand alcohol, insoluble in benzene and ether, and having the formula O,I*I O (R) in which R represents a monovalent alkali metal.

2. The process described of producing the alkali salts of methylenedisalicylic acid which consists in suspending methylene disalicylic acidin water,allowing an alkali to react there In testimony whereof I havehereunto affixed my signature this 9th day ofJune, A. D. [0 1902.

SAMUEL LEWIS SUMMERS.

Witnesses:

WAYNE P. RAMBO, FRANCIS RAMBO.

acid in Water, allowing ammonium hydrate to react thereon, and thenevaporating the solution to dryness, substantially as described.

